Scythe-fastener



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. R. EDW

SGYTHB FAS (No Model.)

ARDS.

TENER. No. 451,222. atentedApr. 28, 1891.

[NEVI-mpx (No Model.) .A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. R. EDWARDS.

SGYTHE PASTE-NER. No. 451,222. Patented Apr. 28,1891.

UNITED TATES ATENT LEVIS R. EDV/YARDS, OF CHARLEMONT, MASSACHUSETTS.

SCYTH E-FASTEN ER.

SPEGFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,222, dated April 28, 1891.

Application filed November 4, 1889. Serial No. 329,210. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS R. EDWARDS, of Charlemont, in the county of Franklin and VState of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Scythe- Fasteners, whereof the following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein the saine letters indicate the same parts, and in which- Figure l shows a perspective view of my Scythe-fastenerattachedto the end of a scythesnath with the tang of a scythe fastened in place thereby. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cen-y tral section of the device as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 8 shows an alternate form of the stationary plate detached from the ring with a socket, through which the loop-bolt passes. Fig. 4 shows one end of the socket-plate projected to pass through the loop and provide a bearing for the scythe-tang, making an alternate form of that plate.

A is the snath, around the end of which, suitably flattened to receive the device, is fitted the ring B, constructed to hold and support securely in place the loop-bolt c, which terni includes the loop G and the threaded projection connected thereto, which passes through the end of the snath, and also made with a projecting portion D, in which a guideway a is formed, having as sides the two ribs b b', between which and across the guideway transversely are'located teeth c c', and on which ring, also, is located a bearingrib d to afford a supporting-surface for the Scythe-tang E. On the flattened face of the snath is also located the socket-plate F, which has a number of sockets e c e? c3 e4 e5 e located transversely across its face, each iitted to receive and hold the turned-over claw f of the Scythe-tang. These sockets are preferably arranged, as shown, on the arcs of curves made with'reference to the arcs which the claw describes as the tang is adjusted to hang the scythe at different angles to the snath, although the different positions which the V-shaped loop G can assume when brought down upon the tang to fasten it. permit variations in the positions of the sockets, if desired. The teeth g g g2 g3 g4, made by the parts projecting between the sockets, are arranged .each to afford a stop against longitudinal motion of the clawin its correspondscribed.

ing opposite socket toward thc tooth. motion when upward on the snath may be checked in different positions of the tang by the substantially V-shaped form of the loop drawn down upon it more or less as the tang is narrower or wider by the nut H Working on the threaded end of the loop-bolt and reacting against the ring B.

The plate F has a projection I, serrated on its under side with the notches h h h2 71,3 7L, and shaped to move longitudinally, but not sidewise in the guideway a, the ribs b b of which limit its sidewise movement. The teeth c c take into any two adjacent notches or projection l, according as it is located in different positions longitudinally of the snath to permit, and when pressed therein rigidly hold the projection and' socket-plate from longitudinal motion along the snath. lt is apparent that the teeth may be on either of the projecting parts I or D, the correspond ing notches being in the other part, and that a single tooth orvprojecticn entering a notch or depression in the other part will prevent motion of the parts longitudinally of each other (more being used as desired for strength and security) in each locked position.

The plate F is fastened to the flattened face of the snath by the bolt K, which passes through the snath, and the nut L, which Works on the threaded end of the bolt. Washers M N, as shown, are preferably setA into the snath to afford bearing-surfaces for the plate F and nut L, respectively. The bolt K works in a slot m of plate F, permitting the necessary longitudinal motion of the plate, but not its sidewise motion, the head yn of the bolt reaching over the sides of the slot and, when tightened down by the nut, fastening the plate F firmly down to its bearings and also fastening the teeth c c firmly into their respective notches.

The operation of the device is simple. To attach a scythe to the snath the nut H is loosened, permitting the loop G to be raised to admit the tang. The nut L is loosened, if there is not a socket at the rightdistance from the bearing-rib d, and plate F adj usted till a socket is properly located, when the plate is again tightened in place, as de- The tang is now adjusted and fastened in the usual way, being entered This IOC

through loop G, the claw f enterin g its proper socket, after which the nut H is turned till the loop is brought firmly down on the tang, clamping it rigidly down on its bearings on rib d and plate F, locking still more firmly projection I into its channel n., and the teeth c c into their proper'notches, and thus rigidly fastening all the parts together. The loop G acting as a cent-er of motion of the tang in adjusting the scythe at different angles, it is apparent that as the claw-sockets are brought nearer to it longitudinally of the snath ya greater variation will occur in the angular distances between the different positions assumed by the scythe-blade and the snath when the claw is located in the several sockets and the loop tightened down on the tang in place than when further away, and consequently that the adjustment of the plate F locating the sockets at different distances longitudinally of the snath from loop G provides for hanging the scythe at a great multiplicity of angles to the snath, as may be desired. This longitudinal motion of the plate with its sockets also provides for location of the blade at different distances up and down the snath, and thus enables the operator to set the edge ofthe blade nearer or farther from him, as desired, without changing its angle to the snath. It also provides for attaching to the snath scythes having longer or shorter tangs as they may be pre sented. It also provides for setting the edge up or down somewhat in the grass ifthe bearingof the tang on rib d is higher or lower than on plate F relative to the attened face of the snath.

Various devices have been made with one or more sockets swinging on a pivot as a center, which enters or passes through the snath, which are inefficient, because the plate bearing the sockets is fastened from longitudinal motion when the tangis set only by its pivotbolt. In my device both bolts C and K combine to hold it from such motion, and lateral motion of the sockets is rendered impossible by the ribs b b on the ring.

The object of the inven-tion is to hang a scythe at a great number of angles to the snath and adjustably higher or lower thereon with some variation in turning the edge up or down, it' desired, and with the greatest possible rigidity and strength by a fastener of cheap construction easily Worked.

In this device the projecting portion D of ring B, which constitutes a stationary plate and may be called plate D,7 may be considered separately from ring B, since it may equally well perform its functions if detached and otherwise attached to the snath, the ring only providing a superior mode of fastening and not being essential to the device, although of much value to strengthen the end of the snath. If omitted, the stationary plate D would preferably be extended and a socket made in it for suitably holding the loop-bolt. In such case the rib d could be formed on the extension or a bearing for the scythe made by projecting plate F through the loop to near the end of the snath. (See Figs. 3 and 4, D replacing D or F F, respectively.)

It is also apparent that the two means of fastening plate F from transverse motion may be reduced to one, the bolt K may be omitted if channel a, in plate D be extended to pass under the sockets in plate F, or the channel a might be dispensed with by extending plate F into loop G and forming a projection on the loop to work in another slot similar to slot m made in the plate. In the former case, however, inconvenience would arise, since plate F would not ordinarily be attached to the snath; and the ribs b b', if made as shown, would hold the plate F from transverse motion when the scythe is fastened.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and for which I pray Letters Patent, is

l. In a Scythe-fastener, a movable socketplate having two or more sockets which, when the socket-plate is located in place on the snath for attaching a scythe, are located transversely of the snath, and which plate, with its sockets, is adjustable into different positions longitudinally on the snath for the purposes described, and which is provided with one or more fastenings to prevent it from moving transversely on the snath, combined with a stationary plate having a means of rigid fastening to the snath, of which plates the one has one or more projections arranged to take into one or more depressions of the other in each of the required Vpositions of the movable plate and fasten said plate from longitudinal motion, combined, also, with a loop-bolt and nut located and adjusted to clamp the Scythe-tang to its bearing on the snath and hold the projection or projections of the one plate into the depression or depressions of the other.

2. The movable socket-plate F, adjustable, as described, into different positions longitudinally of the snath, and having two or more sockets to hold the claw of a scythetang, and also having the serrated projection I, combined with the ring B, having the toothed plate D, and with the loop-bolt C and nut H, said loop-bolt having the loop G.

3. The movable socket-plate F, adjustable, as described, into different positions longitudinally of the snath and the stationary plate D, the one having one or more projections located and constructed to take into'one or more depressions of the other in each required position of the plates relative to each other, combined with the bolt K and nut L and with the ring B and loop-bolt (lyhavingthe loop G and nut H, all said parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described.

LEVIS R. EDWARDS.

In presence of- C. H. KNowLToN, L. B. REIcE.

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